Briefs: aggressive driving, speed limits and technology to avoid impaired driving

Utah: legislation to combat aggressive driving

The state of Utah has enacted a new bill aimed at addressing public concern over the aggressiveness of many drivers on state highways.

According to data provided by the Utah Department of Transportation, there has been an average of 25 deaths annually due to aggressive driving in the state over the past four years. This marks a significant increase from the previous total of 14 annual deaths for this cause.

This new legislation will define aggression by a driver in response to a roadway incident, with the intention of endangering or intimidating another individual in a vehicle, as a criminal offense. Such acts will be considered “road rage” and will carry additional penalties.

In addition to possible jail sentences, police could seize a vehicle without a court order if there is probable cause to believe it was involved in an act of road rage, with a seizure fee of $400. A judge could also suspend the offender’s driver’s license, with repeat offenses within a year leading to mandatory revocation.

Some state legislators express doubts about the new legislation. Representative Jordan Teuscher shared with the committee his belief that while he acknowledges the seriousness of the problem, he is not convinced that increasing penalties will change driver behavior. He emphasized that controlling emotions and anger in the moment is difficult.

Representative Paul Cutler admitted that passing a law alone will not eliminate people’s anger. Cutler included a provision in the bill to use fines related to infractions to help fund a road rage education campaign.